Vent Assembly

ABSTRACT

A vent assembly for preventing precipitation from entering a roof includes a ridge cap structured to be positioned on a ridge of a roof wherein the ridge cap may prevent precipitation from entering the ridge of the roof. The ridge cap is further structured to have a pair of vents wherein the vents may vent air outwardly from the ridge of the roof. A pair of shields is coupled to the ridge cap such that the shields are each positioned within an associated one of the vents. Thus, the shields may prevent wind from driving the precipitation into the vents. A pair of filters is each coupled to the ridge cap such that the filters each surround an associated one of the shields. Thus, the filters may block the precipitation.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to vent devices and more particularly pertains to a new vent device for preventing precipitation from entering a roof.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a ridge cap structured to be positioned on a ridge of a roof wherein the ridge cap may prevent precipitation from entering the ridge of the roof. The ridge cap is further structured to have a pair of vents wherein the vents may vent air outwardly from the ridge of the roof. A pair of shields is coupled to the ridge cap such that the shields are each positioned within an associated one of the vents. Thus, the shields may prevent wind from driving the precipitation into the vents. A pair of filters is each coupled to the ridge cap such that the filters each surround an associated one of the shields. Thus, the filters may absorb the precipitation.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vent assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 if FIG. 2 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new vent device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the vent assembly 10 generally comprises a ridge cap 12 structured to be positioned on a ridge 14 of a roof 16. The ridge cap 12 may prevent precipitation 18 from entering the ridge 14 of the roof 16. The ridge cap 12 is further structured to have a pair of vents 20 wherein the vents 20 may vent air outwardly from the ridge 14 of the roof 16. The roof 16 may be roof 16 of a building 22. Additionally, the roof 16 may a steel roof of any conventional design.

The ridge cap 12 is structured to include a pair of flaps 24 extending downwardly from the ridge cap 12. The flaps 24 are spaced apart to define an air channel 26 between the flaps 24. Each of the flaps 24 is coupled to the roof 16 such that the air channel 26 is aligned with the ridge 14 of the roof 16. Thus, air travels upwardly through the air channel 26 and outwardly through the vents 20. Each of the vents 20 is positioned on opposite sides of the air channel 26.

A plurality of fasteners 28 extends through the flaps 24 and engages the roof 16. The fasteners 28 retain the ridge cap 12 on the roof 16. A plurality of gaskets 30 is each positioned between the flaps 24 and the roof 16. Each of the fasteners 28 extends through an associated one of the gaskets 30. The gaskets 30 form a fluid impermeable seal between the fasteners 28 and the roof 16.

The ridge cap 12 has a pair of bounding walls 32 each defining a lower threshold of the vents 20. The bounding walls 32 each have a plurality of slots 34 extending therethrough. The slots 34 are evenly spaced apart and distributed along an entire length of the bounding walls 32. Additionally, the ridge cap 12 has a pair of sets of lips 36 each extending downwardly from opposite sides of an associated one of the pair of bounding walls 32. An innermost one of the lips 37 capture precipitation that reaches the flaps and prevents the wind driven precipitation from entering the air channel 26 through the slots 34. An outermost one of the lips 39 prevents wind driven precipitation that runs off of the ridge cap 12 from entering the air channel 26 through the slots 34.

A pair of shields 38 is provided. Each of the shields 38 has a first end 40 and a second end 42. Each of the shields 38 is elongated between the first 40 and second 42 ends. Each of the shields 38 is structured to define a plurality of undulating curves 44 evenly spaced apart and distributed between a first lateral side 46 and a second lateral side 48 of the shields 38. Thus, the undulating curves 44 define an alternating sequence of peaks 50 and valleys 52 in the shields 38.

The shields 38 are each coupled to a top surface 53 of an associated one of the bounding walls 32 such that the shields 38 are each positioned within an associated one of the vents 20. Air from the ridge 14 of the roof 16 passes along the peaks 50 and valleys 52 and exits the ridge cap 12 through the plurality of slots 34. The peaks 50 and valleys 52 pose a physical barrier to the precipitation 18 such the precipitation 18 is deposited onto the shields 38 when wind drives the precipitation 18 upwardly through the slots 34. Thus, the shields 38 may prevent the precipitation 18 from entering into the ridge 14 of the roof 16.

A pair of filters 54 is provided. Each of the filters 54 is coupled to the ridge cap 12 such that the filters 54 each surround an associated one of the shields 38. Each of the filters 54 is elongated such that the filters 54 are coextensive with the associated shields 38. The filters 54 completely fill the vents 20 such that the filters 54 block any precipitation 18 that travels past the shields 38. Thus, the filters 54 may provide a second physical barrier to the precipitation 18, particularly snow.

A pair of shields 56 is provided. The shields 56 are each bent such that that the shields 56 each forms an L-shape. The shields 56 are each coupled to an associated innermost one 58 of the set of lips 36 on the ridge cap 12 such that the shields 56 are each positioned within an associated one of the vents 20. The shields 56 are each spaced upwardly from and extend laterally across the filters 54. Each of the shields 56 prevents the precipitation 18 from wicking upwardly along or being blown upwardly along the innermost lips 58 and entering the air channel 26.

A pair of end caps 60 is provided. An outer edge 62 of each of the end caps 60 defines a shape that matches a shape of the ridge cap 12. Each of the end caps 60 is removably coupled to opposite ends of the ridge cap 12 such that the end caps 60 close the opposite ends of the ridge cap 12.

In use, the ridge cap 12 is coupled to the roof 16 in the convention of roof construction. The filters 54 allow air to vent outwardly from the roof 16 and allow wind to pass through the filters 54. The filters 54 prevent the precipitation 18 from travelling with the wind through the shields 38. Thus, the shields 38 and the filters 54 provide two way direction of air flow while simultaneously restricting the passage of the precipitation 18 into the roof 16.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A vent assembly comprising: a ridge cap configured to be positioned on a ridge of a roof wherein said ridge cap is configured to prevent precipitation from entering the ridge of the roof, said ridge cap being structured to have a pair of vents wherein said vents are configured to vent air outwardly from the ridge of the roof; a pair of shields coupled to said ridge cap such that said shields are each positioned within an associated one of said vents wherein said shields are configured to prevent wind from driving the precipitation into said vents; and a pair of filters each coupled to said ridge cap such that said filters each surrounds an associated one of said shields wherein said filters are configured to block the precipitation.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising said ridge cap being structured to include a pair of flaps extending downwardly from said ridge cap, said flaps being spaced apart to define an air channel between said flaps, each of said flaps being coupled to the roof such that said air channel is aligned with the ridge of the roof wherein air travels upwardly through said air channel and outwardly through said vents.
 3. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising each of said shields having a first end and a second end, each of said shields being elongated between said first and second ends, each of said shields being structured to define a plurality of undulating curves evenly spaced apart and distributed between a first lateral side and a second lateral side of said shields such that said undulating curves defines an alternating sequence of peaks and valleys in said shields.
 4. The assembly according to claim 3, further comprising: said ridge cap having a pair of bounding walls each defining a lower threshold of said vents; said bounding walls each having a plurality of slots extending therethrough, said slots being evenly spaced apart and distributed along an entire length of said bounding walls; and said shields each being coupled to a top surface of an associated one of said bounding walls such that air from the ridge of the roof passes along said peaks and valleys and exits said ridge cap through said plurality of slots.
 5. The assembly according to claim 4, further comprising said peaks and valleys posing a physical barrier to the precipitation such the precipitation is deposited onto said shields when the wind drives the precipitation upwardly through said slots wherein said shields are configured to prevent the precipitation from entering into the ridge of the roof.
 6. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising each of said filters being elongated such that said filters is coextensive with said associated shield, said filters completely filling said vents such that said filters block precipitation that travels past said shields wherein said filters are configured to provide a second physical barrier to the precipitation.
 7. A vent assembly comprising: a ridge cap configured to be positioned on a ridge of a roof wherein said ridge cap is configured to prevent precipitation from entering the ridge of the roof, said ridge cap being structured to have a pair of vents wherein said vents are configured to vent air outwardly from the ridge of the roof; said ridge cap being structured to include a pair of flaps extending downwardly from said ridge cap, said flaps being spaced apart to define an air channel between said flaps, each of said flaps being coupled to the roof such that said air channel is aligned with the ridge of the roof wherein air travels upwardly through said air channel and outwardly through said vents; said ridge cap having a pair of bounding walls each defining a lower threshold of said vents, said bounding walls each having a plurality of slots extending therethrough, said slots being evenly spaced apart and distributed along an entire length of said bounding walls; a pair of shields, each of said shields having a first end and a second end, each of said shields being elongated between said first and second ends, each of said shields being structured to define a plurality of undulating curves evenly spaced apart and distributed between a first lateral side and a second lateral side of said shields such that said undulating curves defines an alternating sequence of peaks and valleys in said shields; said shields each being coupled to a top surface of an associated one of said bounding walls such that said shields are each positioned within an associated one of said vents wherein air from the ridge of the roof passes along said peaks and valleys and exits said ridge cap through said plurality of slots; said peaks and valleys posing a physical barrier to the precipitation such the precipitation is deposited onto said shields when wind drives the precipitation upwardly through said slots wherein said shields are configured to prevent the precipitation from entering into the ridge of the roof; and a pair of filters each coupled to said ridge cap such that said filters each surrounds an associated one of said shields, each of said filters being elongated such that said filters are coextensive with said associated shield, said filters completely filling said vents such that said filters blocks precipitation that travels past said shields wherein said filters are configured to provide a second physical barrier to the precipitation. 